Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-21

is American. And were this all, the
authorization of tLis corporation would
be most conspicuous for its alien charac-
teristies. But what especially renders it
un-American. is the fact that this steam
ship line is the complement of the Cana
dian Pacific Railroad. a corporation which
has been allowed by the present admins
tration rights and privileges which are
denied by the interstate commerce act,
all roads that are strictly within our
boundaries. In fact then there are two
acts which colored so as TO avert the at
tention of the public at the time they were
committed. have begun to affect seriously
the interests of the country.
The Pacific Coast Steamship Company
of San Francisco" is in reality an extern
sion by water, of the Canadian Pacific
Railroad and the Canadian Pacific Rail-
road is not only foreign corporation but
| is, in view of the investments made by the
Provincial Government, the Canadian
| Government itself. in the form OF cor
poration which with its water extension
has its lines so arranged as to enter into
competition fatal to the Western railroad
interests of the country. The interstate
commerce act, judicial in all its parts, so
binds domestic lines to uniform require
ments that the cut-rate policy OF the Canadi-
an Pacific supported by enormous subsidies
can controla large transportation which
should belong to our roads and which would
be theirs but for the action of this admin
istration. Notwithstanding the injurious
tendencies to the interests of the country
this action is in defiance OF the laws of the
land. Congress foreseeing this very occas-
ion from past experiences, took away from
foreign carriers the right of transporta-
ton in our domestic commerce when it
annuled the treaty of Washington. The
authorization of this gigantic scheme to
enable Canada to engage in our carrying
trade, was an assumption of power which
no executive officer until this administra-
ton would even countenance. 1t is real
ly unaccountable on the grounds that this
administration is careful and watchtul
over the interests of the Nation. 1t is
explainable only on the self-evident basis
of the Presidents disregard for the wei
fare of American corporations. And were
this attitude of the President not confirmed
by these unfriendly acts, it would only be
necessary in order to strengthen the as
sertion, to consider his course upon the
fishery question.
These acts possess greater conse-
quence than appears at first contemplation.
They are blow to the shipping interests
of the country in that they deprive Ameri-
can vessels engaged in the Pacific coast
trade Of their former lucrative business.
They are blow to the great Western
railroad system which should, unimpeded,
be allowed the transportation of the pro-
duct of domestic commerce. They are a
blow to the labor of the country by de-
priving the laborlng man of the benefits
to be derived from the handling of mer
chandse in the course of transportation.
These acts, un-American in every respect,
are a positive exponent of the policy of
Mr.. Cleveland. and they positively define
his position on the protection and encour-
aeement of American industries and COM
merce. Everything to the British Lion.